Yes Mcook, there are various gate quotas that come into force during the busy times.I know the bigger gates will have a higher quota and smaller less so.Will try and find where they are listed.Can't think offhand.

Searching the forums for previous discussions, it seems you must pre-book. 60% of the quotas are reached from pre-booking.

This is what KNP Spokesperson told us of numbers back in 2008 - I stand to be corrected, as the number might have increased a little on some gates, but it is a guide:

KNP Spokesman wrote:

Hi Everyone

Thanks for the suggestions and comments, much appreciated. At the risk of repeating myself, KNP management is presently doing a study on guest/visitor management, particularly with road usage data. Recent visitors might have noticed small black lines stretched across the road at various places with mysterious green boxes. These boxes collect data like how many cars use the road, at what time of the day and what the frequency of this is. This will tell us what sort of stress the roads have and whether the roads are overcrowded or not.This data will then be analysed by a committee that has been established to look into the whole gate quota issue.At this point, I would like to stress that you need to look at the gate quota issue in perspective with other issues like crowding at game spots, crowding at facilities (day visitor areas, picnic sites etc) and take educated decisions on the way forward.This was one of the measures that came up after the extensive consultation we did during the whole KNP management plan process (widely discussed on the forum approximately two years ago).Anyway, back to the gate quotas. We know that there is a certain amount of strain on the park, especially on public holidays that fall within school holidays, and we know that we need to make some sort of revision on the whole quota policy, which will also help alleviate the traffic jams and resultant "road rage" at spots, making the KNP visit experience more pleasurable for everyone.At present, the gate quotas (which are still in force, every day of the year) are based on the amount of facilities and road surface in that particular area.Small gates have a quota of 350 (this includes Croc Bridge, Numbi, Orpen, Pafuri etc), big gates have a quota of 500 (this includes Malelane, Phalaborwa, Punda Maria etc) and the main gate of the park Paul Kruger Gate has a quota of 750.

Add 10% to the figures quoted by DB above.....these were increased a year or two back. More recently some quotas have been a bit relaxed leading to the problems some are mentioning, and hence the decision to apply the quota system strictly. I know the last twice I helped at Malelane this happened, and when numbers were reached it was 'Quota full. Reservations only.'

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Have you read the entrance permit? Do you KNOW the Conditions of Entry?

Small gates have a quota of 350 (this includes Croc Bridge, Numbi, Orpen, Pafuri etc), big gates have a quota of 500 (this includes Malelane, Phalaborwa, Punda Maria etc) and the main gate of the park Paul Kruger Gate has a quota of 750.

Hope this explains.Kind regardsKNP Spokesman

If it is vehicles it’s a fairly large number. Do some gates hit these numbers and refuse entry.

I also have been told that these numbers were increased during the soccer world cup in 2010, but were never decreased after the event, so what are the numbers now, these plus 10% as stated by ecojunkie

I'm surprised that the park can handle this load in holiday season if these quotas are reached but at least I will get in

The quotas depend on facilities available for PEOPLE - cars do not use toilets and restaurants!!!! And yes, folk do travel a distance, but then they travel a distance from all gates, so it does even out.

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Have you read the entrance permit? Do you KNOW the Conditions of Entry?

Yes. It is important for all to understand that this booking fee does NOT allow folk priority at the gates (unless it is one of the gates with upgraded facilities).

When the gates open in the morning everybody is in the same queue. Once the quota has been reached only those with bookings are allowed in.

Your booking guarantees entry - not priority entry.

And yes, the OSV drivers are in the same queue.

The only time somebody can bypass the queue is if they already have a permit eg a re-entry, or where an OSV company has had an employee come early and get permits for their vehicles - so the driver does not need to stop at the office because all is already in place.

There are times when things are going very slow for some reason that folk with an overnight booking at a distance (eg north of Satara, entering at Malelane or Croc Bridge) will be allowed to bypass the queue simply because of the time factor.

It is when folk take things into their own hands and decide that they can bypass queues that problems occur. If folk would just be patient and follow the queue, AND not go into the office either until they are in the parking area, then things would actually run smoother and quicker as we have proved at Malelane.

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Have you read the entrance permit? Do you KNOW the Conditions of Entry?

Day Visitors to the Kruger National Park (KNP) are requested to take note of gate quotas when planning their visit, as these will strictly be enforced during the coming school holidays which start on Saturday, 28 June until Sunday, 20 July 2014.

Visitors are advised to either arrive at the gate very early in the morning because the service is on “first come first served” basis or pre-book their entrance with central reservations office on telephone number 012 428 9111 in order to ensure that they gain access to the park in terms of their own plan and are not sent back at the gate.

“Our gates have experienced a high volume of visitors during the past holidays, reaching their full daily quota fairly early in the day; therefore we are calling on everyone who is planning to visit the park as a day visitor to please make the necessary arrangement before hand in order to secure entry”, said the GM: Communication & Marketing in the KNP, William Mabasa.

Pre-booking comes with a non-refundable deposit of R32 per adult and R16 per child entering the park; which must be paid in advance and is meant to ensure their space because they would have been counted in the number that made the daily quota. Day visitors with advanced bookings are expected to arrive at the booked gate and date by not later than 13:00, after which the booking lapses. A pre-booking however does not exempt the day visitor from paying the normal conservation fees upon arrival at the gate but secures him/her entry.

All visitors are also reminded to bring along their identity documents (IDs) or alternative form of identity to avoid problems at the gates. Wild Cards cannot be used to identify one as legitimate holder and should be accompanied by some form of identity.

Mabasa also reminded visitors not to bring liquor with them as the alcohol ban on public areas in the Park is a permanent rule which is enforced at all times; and the rest of the Park rules shall be fully enforced as well. Visitors can report any rules and regulations infringement to the Emergency Call Centres on 013 735 4325/013 735 0197 or 076 801 9679.

Day Visitors, who may not be able to gain entry because the quota shall have been reached, can if they wish, make use of the park and ride a facility which is available at some gates. The park and ride will cost visitors extra money but should be better than having to be turned back at the gate.

“We also request visitors to plan their trip by observing gate opening and closing times so that they do not find themselves either speeding or arriving late at the camps/gates on their way in/out of the park. People must please read their permits received at the gates because all the rules and regulations of the park are clearly stipulated in those documents,” concluded Mabasa.

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